Wash My Feet

         Olivia, a beautiful angel in heaven, walked to the throne room to talk to Father God as she did every day. There was something she didn’t understand. She often had questions about things she saw and heard, and God always had the answers.

As she approached the throne, Father God greeted her with the love and attention He always shows.

“Good morning, Olivia, My beautiful angel. How are you this morning?”

“Oh, Father God, I am wonderful. Every day with You is amazing.”

“Well, Father God,” she began, “I was watching the disciples eating a meal with Jesus. He was telling them what was about to happen. He would die and rise again. Try as they would, they could not fully comprehend what He was saying. Then Jesus wrapped a towel around His waist, took a basin of water, and started washing their feet. Why would He do that?”

“Olivia, everything Jesus does is about caring for the people He loves. His disciples are the ones He is the closest to on earth. One of His main goals is to teach His followers how to love and serve each other, and their fellow human beings. Even though Jesus has a monumental task ahead of Him that will be extremely difficult to bear, His main concern is still for them, rather than for Himself. Jesus went to earth, not to be served, but to serve. Washing their feet is a very loving and caring thing to do. As people walk from town to town their feet get very dirty. When someone washes another’s feet it shows that they care about their guest or loved one’s comfort.”

“But, why then,” asked Olivia, “would Peter tell Jesus not to wash his feet?”

“Well, Olivia,” Father God explained, “as I am sure you have noticed, although Peter has a kind heart, and a desire to please Jesus, he is very excitable and impetuous. He over-reacts to situations he doesn’t fully understand. The reason he didn’t want Jesus to wash his feet was because he didn’t feel worthy. What he didn’t understand was that Jesus washing his feet was not about Peter being worthy, but it was symbolic of Jesus making him worthy. People cannot make themselves spiritually clean. It takes Jesus.”

“So,” said Olivia, beginning to understand, “that is why Peter then asked Jesus to not only wash his feet, but his whole body. Then why did Jesus not do that?”

“You see, Olivia, when a person comes to Jesus and asks Him to forgive their sins and accepts our salvation, We wash their whole spiritual body of all sin. That does not need to be done over and over. However, as they walk through life, they are constantly making mistakes and slipping up, committing little sins on a daily basis. They can’t help doing that because they, as humans, are unable to be perfect. They are born with sin, and are cannot rid themselves of that sin. However, they can give it to Us on a daily basis and We are constantly washing that sin away. The dirt on their feet is symbolic of the sins they pick up as they walk through life. Jesus washing their feet is symbolic of Us washing away those daily sins.”

“That is what Peter was having a hard time understanding. When Peter went overboard and wanted his whole body washed Jesus had to help him to see the difference.”

“I see now, Father God. People can make salvation so complicated and difficult, when all it really is, is giving their heart and soul to You, asking for Your forgiveness of their sins and trusting You to constantly be forgiving them for the sins they are committing each day, because they are imperfect. That doesn’t give them an excuse to purposely sin though, does it?”

“No, Olivia. If they truly love Us, they will be trying not to sin, and being in daily communion with Us. Reading the Bible We have given them and praying will grow them spiritually. As they walk through life we will be washing their feet constantly. ”

“Thank you, Father God, for helping me to understand.”